The business behind the show

William Morris Endeavor dumps Mel Gibson

July 9, 2010 | 5:19
pm

Add another log to the Mel Gibson inferno.

A spokesman for the William Morris Endeavor agency confirmed Friday that the embattled actor is no longer a client.

The decision follows the death Saturday of longtime Hollywood agent Ed Limato, who had represented Gibson for more than three decades. Limato brought his roster of A-list talent -- including the Academy Award-winning actor -- to William Morris when he rejoined the agency in 2007. It merged with Endeavor last year.

Ari Emanuel, co-chief executive of William Morris Endeavor, has made no secret of his disdain for Gibson. In July 2006, Emanuel wrote an open letter urging Hollywood to blacklist the actor for anti-Semitic remarks made during Gibson's drunk-driving arrest.

"People in the entertainment community, whether Jew or gentile, need to demonstrate that they understand how much is at stake in this by professionally shunning Mel Gibson and refusing to work with him, even if it means a sacrifice to their bottom line," Emanuel wrote.

Gibson later apologized for his remarks.

Emanuel is said to have tolerated William Morris Endeavor's representation of Gibson out of respect for Limato. However, when the agent's illness made it impossible for him to continue to work, the agency reportedly asked Gibson to find other representation.

The split comes as RadarOnline.com posted a profanity-laced rant purportedly by the Oscar-winning actor in which he drops racial epithets and criticizes his former girlfriend, Oksana Grigorieva, for "sashaying in your tight clothes," dressing provocatively and telling her "if you get raped ... it will be your fault."

The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department is investigating an allegation of domestic violence involving Gibson and Grigorieva. The couple have been separated since April.